Laboratories for the 21st Century

Modeling Session E-3

October 7-9-2002

Flad & Associates Affiliated Engineers Fluent, Inc.

Wyeth Research and Development Laboratory--B260

175,000 gsf facility for 277 people Bacterial research Viral research Immunology

Flad & Associates

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Fluent, Inc.

Typical Immunology Labs

11 x 32 planning module 1,056 square foot laboratory 176 square foot isolation rooms (4) 1760 square foot lab suite 9-8 ceiling height

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Fluent, Inc.

Strategies to Reduce Ventilation Energy Consumption

Vary airflow based on actual use Determine minimum airflow rate Reduce system pressure drop Improve fan system efficiency

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Fluent, Inc.

How Amount of Air is Determined

Need the thermostat Need connected equipment hoods Code Historical intuition

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Fluent, Inc.

Air Changes / Hour

15 AC/HR Non-Chemistry Labs

Equipment ? AC/HR

Exterior Lights People Occupied

~2600 hrs/yr 30%

Equipment

Exterior Lights Unoccupied

~6160 hrs/yr 70%
Flad & Associates Affiliated Engineers Fluent, Inc.

Guidelines for Minimum Air Changes / Hour in Non-Chemistry Laboratories

Occupied

16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0

Unoccupied

?
OSHA NIH NFPA

? ??
ASHRAE ANSI

?
Affiliated Engineers

Handbook of Lab Safety Flad & Associates

Prudent Practices

Typical Clients

Fluent, Inc.

Building a Laboratory Airflow Model

3D DXF CADD file imported as basis for airflow model

Isolation Room B

Central Laboratory Space

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Fluent, Inc.

Laboratory Ventilation Flow Rates 12 ACH

Return 2-ftx4-ft return 1020 cfm Main Doors Flow boundary condition 150 cfm each Isolation Room B Door Open

Isolation Room Door 150 cfm out

BSC 8-inch opening 100 fpm face vel 530 cfm Supply Diffuser 2-way 480 cfm

Isolation Room Door 150 cfm out

Return 2-ftx2-ft return 100 cfm Fume Hood 18-inch opening 100 fpm face vel Isolation 600 cfm Room Door 150 cfm out Supply Diffusers (5) 4-way / each 384 cfm
Flad & Associates Affiliated Engineers

Fluent, Inc.

Supply Airflow Patterns From Ceiling Diffusers

12 ACH

8 ACH

Iso-surfaces of 150 fpm air velocity

Flad & Associates Affiliated Engineers Fluent, Inc.

Will Ventilation System Design Affect Hoods?

Want to avoid supply air interfering with hood capture efficiency Possible problem if supply jet with air velocity > 50% of face velocity (~100 fpm) reaches sash opening Maximum supply airflow shown here: 18 ACH
Air velocity contours at z = 1 m Fume Hood + 3-Way Diffuser Biological Safety Cabinet + 2-Way Diffuser

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Fluent, Inc.

Ventilation Effectiveness is Important

Airflow modeling can determine the local mean age of air , Represents freshness of the air or expected turnover Can be used to identify poorly ventilated areas Ventilation effectiveness, related to mean age of air,

12 ACH

Local mean age of air at floor level

3600 / ACH

Average ventilation effectiveness in occupied zone should be > 0.9 8 ACH

Flad & Associates Affiliated Engineers Fluent, Inc.

Determine if Thermal Comfort Achieved

Predicted thermal comfort of workers is a function of

Assumptions Clothing Activity level (metabolic rate) Local conditions air velocity air temperature relative humidity mean radiant temperature

12 ACH

Percentage of People Dissatisfied (PPD) at z = 1 m

Airflow modeling can compute local conditions and predict thermal comfort
Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) Percent of People Dissatisfied (PPD)

8 ACH
Flad & Associates Affiliated Engineers Fluent, Inc.

Energy Performance and Laboratory Safety

Want to optimize laboratory energy performance by allowing for reduced ventilation flow rates when thermal loads permit it Use airflow modeling to help determine if laboratory will provide safe environment for workers in the event of chemical spill scenario 1-liter spill of methylene chloride in isolation room 4-liter spill of methylene chloride in central laboratory area Acceptability criteria:

MeCl concentration does not exceed 125 ppmv (STEL) for more than one hour
Although OSHA STEL is 125 ppmv for 15 minute average, assume laboratory is evacuated by unprotected personnel shortly after spill occurs

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Fluent, Inc.

Transient Floor Concentration Levels for Small Spill

seconds

1-liter liquid methylene chloride spill in isolation room 1 m2 spill area Vaporization occurs over 300 seconds at constant rate Total simulation time = 1,800 seconds
color contours clipped at 125 ppmv

12 ACH

seconds

8 ACH

concentration drops below 125 ppmv at 840 s

concentration drops below 125 ppmv at 1140 s

Flad & Associates Affiliated Engineers Fluent, Inc.

Transient Floor Concentration Levels for Large Spill

seconds

4-liter liquid methylene chloride spill in central laboratory 4 m2 spill area Vaporization occurs over 300 seconds at constant rate Total simulation time = 3,600 seconds
color contours clipped at 125 ppmv

12 ACH

seconds

8 ACH

concentration drops below 125 ppmv at 1560 s

concentration drops below 125 ppmv at 1680 s

Flad & Associates Affiliated Engineers Fluent, Inc.

Labs 21 EPC Modification Criteria for ASHRAE 90.1

Budget Building Design Fume hood / exhaust device density Plug loads Same as proposed design

Proposed Design Based on prerequisite 4

Same as proposed design

Based on laboratory requirements and operation As designed

Lighting power density

1.8 W / sf (net)

Fume hood configuration Ventilation system control

100 fpm face velocity with vertical rising sash 18 open 100% outside air, constant volume, without heat recovery

As designed

As designed, using same occupied hours schedule as budget design

All other characteristics of the budget building design and proposed design (e.g. envelope, etc.) shall remain the same as in the standard
Flad & Associates Affiliated Engineers Fluent, Inc.

DOE2 Energy Simulation Baselines

New York State Energy Conservation Code New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) New Construction Program ASHRAE / IESNA Standard 90.1 1999 (LEED) Labs21 Environmental Performance Criteria (EPC)

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DOE2 Analysis

Comparison of 8 vs. 12 ACHs yielded a $280,000 annual operating savings Modeled ASHRAE 90.1 1999 and draft version of LABS 21 EPC
ASHRAE 90.1
$1,080,102

$1,200,000

LABS21 EPC

$1,000,000

Annual Operating Cost

Courtesy of Steven Winter Associates

$801,719

$800,000

$781,635

$790,177

$764,490

$??

$600,000

$400,000

$200,000

$0
8 ACH 12 ACH Design Without fan power limits With fan power limits With CV supply & exhaust

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Fluent, Inc.

Questions / Discussion
Garrick Maine, AIA, Flad & Associates As an advocate of environmental design Garrick is Flads representative to the U.S. Green Building Council, the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance and member of the Board of Directors of WasteCap Wisconsin, a non-profit organization promoting responsible waste management practices.

Steven G. Frei, PE, Affiliated Engineers Mr. Frei has extensive experience designing mechanical systems for research and testing facilities. This experience includes the design of new facilities and renovation of existing structures.

Walter Schwarz, Fluent Inc. Walter Schwarz has over 20 years of experience in the areas of flow modeling, heat transfer, and turbulence. He is currently working on delivering airflow modeling solutions to the HVAC industry related to ventilation system performance with respect to indoor air quality, thermal comfort, health and safety, and contamination control.

Flad & Associates

Affiliated Engineers

Fluent, Inc.